Add Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to the mix, and NESN says ratings this spring training were up 108%.

Sports radio host Michael Felger says things are different. “Remember in ’07 when we tracked Dice-k Matsuzaka’s plane coming across the country, we were that nuts about baseball,” Felger reminded us. “I don’t know if we will ever get that back. I don’t know.”

The Red Sox start the season on the road Friday in Texas against the Rangers.